Grate



May 7, 19935. J. F. O'CONNOR I 2,000,473

GRATE Filed Feb. 10, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 1935- J. F. OCONNOR 2,000,473

' GRATE Filed Feb. 10, 1955 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Patented May 7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,000,473 r V p p GRA'I'E John F. OOonnor, Chicago, 111. Application February 10, 1933", Serial No. 656,076 I 6 Claims. 01426-180) This invention relates to improvements in grates and more particularly grates or fuel supporting means for furnaces such as those used in generating steam and usually operated at a high rate as for instance, locomotives, marine boilers and the like. One object of the invention is to provide a grate or fuel supporting means such that the fuel supporting areas are finely divided and with intervening air vents so as to prevent loss of fuel byaccidental passage thereof through the grate to the ashpan before completionof combustion and to obtain better air distribution to the bed of fuel, more uniform and efficient combustion thereof and higher firebox temperatures, than heretofore. 1

Another object of the inventionis to provide a grate or fuel supporting means of the character above indicated wherein the fuel'supporting units proper and, optionally, the carrier bars therefor, are so constructed asto combine the functions of radiating the heat from the adjacent fuel with sufficient rapidity to prevent excessive heating or burning of the supporting units and, simultaneously, utilizing said radiated heat for preheating the air for combustion effectively and rapidly as the air is passed to and into the fuel bed.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a grate of the character indicated wherein are em ployed rockable carrier bars on which are detachably assembled the fuel supporting units proper; to provide fuel supporting units such that the supporting surfaces proper thereof present no sharp or fine points projecting into the fuel to thereby minimize possibility of the units being burned out wholly or in part; to provide fuel supporting units of such character that t -e same may be manufactured in mass quantitiesat relatively small expense and, further, so designed as to necessitate a minimum Weight orquantity of material. a

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following. V

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a part sectional view, part side elevational view of a grate or fuel supporting means embodying one form of the invention, parts being broken away in order to accommodate the figure on' the sheet. Figure 2 is a veris a vertical, transverse sectional view corresponding to the line 46 of Figure 3. Figure 5; is an end elevational viewof a carrierba-r and fuel supporting units proper assembled therewith embodying another form of the invention. Fig-,- ure 6 is a partial, sectional view, part elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 5 and'corresponding to the line 66 thereof. Figure? is a vertical, sectional view, corresponding to the line 1 'l of Figure 6. Figure 8 is a view. simie lar 'to Figure 5 but'showing the carrier bar in section embodying another form of the invention, the s'ectioncorresponding to the line 8-8 of Figure 9. Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view corresponding to the line. 99 of Figure .8. And Figure 10 is an end elevational view of the trunnion adapter employed in the construction shownin Figure8. i

Referring'first to the form shown in Figures 1 to 4, It. indicates one of the side supporting framesor plates of the furnace construction such as commonly found, for instance, in locomotives, the same, being provided with a plurality of trunnion lugs H projecting inwardly and the number of which correspondsto the number of grate bars to be used. Said lugs are preferably of truncated conical form, as clearly shown in the drawings.

Rockably mounted on each alined pair of trunnions II is a carrier bar designated gener ally by the reference character A. SaidbarfA, in transverse section, is of approximately heavy or thick, inverted U-form with depending side arms l2-l 2 and an upper curved uniting section 13, as best shown in Figure 2. Withthi's construction, a longitudinally extending vertical recess I4 is formed in the bar with the same opening; downwardly as will be apparent. Each of the side arms i2, is shown provided with a plurality of transversely extending and alined'openings or vents l5l5 to permit of air circulating therethrough, each of said openings 15 prefer-- ably being vertically elongated and outwardly tapered from the center line of thebar to the exterior thereof. Also, theupper curved section l3 of the bar is provided withalongitudinal series of openings or vents l6l 6,'each'longitudinally elongated and preferably upwardly tapered as shown. As will be evident, all of the opene; ings or vents-l5 and I6 communicate with the recess I4 so that air entering the recess l4 passes upwardly and thence part of the same laterally and the balance upwardly throughthe slots or openings l 6, thus providing for a diffused circulation of the air and preheating thereof in Figure 3.

its passage into and through the carried bar.

At each end, the bar A is formed with a semicircular trunnion bearing i1 conformed to the trunnions II, as best shown in Figure 3 so that the carrier bar may be easily dropped into place and easily removed when desired and, at the same time, allow for the necessary rocking. The upper section l3 ofthe bar A is graduallythickened from each end toward the middle, as best shown in Figiue 3, so as'to provide the necessary beam strength, as will be understood. Each carrier bar A is adapted to be rocked by means of a lever member B which is assembled endwise thereover and disposed centrally of the ban;

Said member B is apertured to correspond with the outside contour of the bar A and is provided with an upwardly projecting wedge shaped lug l8 which fits within the recess it, whereby adetachable but non-rotative' connection is made between the member B and bar A for effecting carrier bar A, is a plurality of fuel supporting units each designated generally by the reference character C. Each of said units C comprises a vertically extending and relatively thinweb I9 so arranged as to' extend transversely of the bar A. when in' assembled position. Along the top edge of the web H), which is of arcuatecontour when the unit is viewed in elevation as shown in Figure 2, are two series of lugs or fingers 20-20, one series extending to one side of the web and the other series to the opposite side; The lugs or fingers 2! are ofrelatively'small cross sec-' tion; are laterally spaced; and taper from the web to their outer ends, whereby a series of small openings, vents or passages 21-21 are provided, which are tapered upwardly between each adjacent pair of fingers, as clearly shown in Figure 2. The upper surfaces of the fingers or lugs 20 are also preferably curved or convex as the units C are viewed in section as shown in The web I 9 ,of each unit C. is centrally aperturedras indicated at 22 tocorrespond to the exterior contour of the bar A so that the units maybe slipped or threaded endwise over the'bar into proper position. Immediately adjacentthe opening 22, a shallow rib is formed therearoundi on each side of theweb, as indicatedlat 23,1 to provide suitable reinforcement. On each side of the web l9 and at each side of the centralaper ture 22 below and entirely separate from the fingers 20, are provided series of integrally formed flanges 24-44, the latter being spaced The flanges '24 are preferably tapered in cross sectiongas shown in Figure 2, and are'of such width that the outer edges 2'! thereof will preferably come into contact with those of the next adjacent unit when the parts are assembled and, at the same time, leave a narrow opening orclearahce 28 'between, the adjacent opposed ends of the fingers 20, as shown in Figure 3.

With the construction of the unit C as described, it will be seen that a relatively large number of curved, finely divided or separated supporting areas for the fuel are provided and without any sharp points or the like projecting into the fuel bed, thus minimizing possibility of burning off any portions of the units. Furthermore, heat from the fuel bed will be conducted downwardly through the web and from the latter to the flanges '24 which provide upwardly and inwardly inclined passages 29 converging or di-- rected in a general direction toward the central top area of theunit for the air of combustion so that a large metal area is presented not only for conducting the heat away from the fuel supporting surfaces proper but for also simultaneously transferring such heat to the upwardly flowing air for combustion. The arrangement of the air passages is also such as to accelerate the velocity of the air in its movement through the passages or fiues and this air is delivered to the fuel supporting surfaces in finely divided streams over the entire area. These functions are performed not only by the units C but also in part by the carrier bar A, as previously described. With this construction, the delivery of air in a preheated condition to the fuel through the relatively small or fine openings is rendered uniform and steady, thus insuring efficient ccmbustion ahdminimization of clinkering and at the same time preserving the life of the units C.

To hold the units C in assembled position on the carrier bar, the latter at each end has its depending arms l2 slightly undercut, as indicated at 3!l3il in Figure 4, and a U- or horseshoe shaped, preferably wrought iron plate 36 is dropped over the bar and drawn togetherso as to'engage beneath the shoulders formed by the recess 30. By'spreading apart the depending arms of the plates 31, the latter can obviously be readily removed and the units C then taken off of the bar, as will be understood.

Referring next to the construction shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7, I m indicates the side frames of the furnace construction, HI the trunnion lugs; A the carrier bar; and C the supporting units;

to fit over the trunnion lugs HI, as will be understoo'd. The bar A is furtherprovided, along the top thereof, with alternated projections 43 and depressionsAA spaced according to the size of the units C. 'Also, along each side of the web 4p, the bar. A is provided with an upper longitudinally and horizontally extending rib 45 tapered outwardly in section; an intermediate horizontally and longtudinally extending rib 48 having a fiat top surface but undulating underneath surface, as indicated at 41, and likewise tapered in section; and a lower generally, horizontally extending but undulating rib 48, lil ewise tapered in section. The intermediate rib 46 is notched or recessed along its outer edge at intervals as indicated at M6, the latter being alined with the top projections 43 forthe purpose hereinafter described. The bottom rib' 48 is also notched at intervals as indicated at 8, the latter being opposite the depressions 44 and longitudinally offset from'the notches M5.

ter line of thefunit, as clearly shown'in'Figure" Each of the units C comprises a centralvertie cal web II 9; top series of laterally extending, spaced, tapered fingers I 20; and a plurality of upwardly and inwardly inclined, substantially parallel radiating and flue-forming flanges I24, all functioning substantially the same as the correspondingparts of the units shown in Figures l to 3 and heretofore described. The web I I9 is provided with a downwardly opening centrally disposed recess I 22, which is widened at its lower portion as indicated at 222, the latter portion being reinforced by narrow flanges 223. The portion of the opening 222 is of such width that the same may be readily passed over all three of the ribs 45-46 and 48 and the upper portion of the opening I22 is of such width as to pass over the upper rib 45 only. Near the lower ends of the side walls defining the portion 222 of the opening, each unit is provided with opposed inwardly extending conical lugs 49 so spaced that they may be dropped through the notches 146 of the intermediate ribs and, when the unit is shifted lengthwise of the carrier bar, then dropped into the notches I48 of the lower ribs, as shown in Figure 7; With this construction, it will be observed that the units C, after they have been assembled withjthe car.-

rier bar, cannot accidentally be vertically removed or displaced but must either be shifted endwise of the bar opposite the notches I46 or partially shifted and tilted so as to permit withdrawal of the lugs 49 through the notches I46.

At each end of the carrier bar is applied a retainer Edsubstantially similar in all respects to a unit 0' except that it is somewhat narrower and, at the bottom of the central opening thereof, is provided with inturned lugs -IIl l 50, which engage beneath the lowerends of the U-shaped flange I42.

In the construction of Figures 5', 6 and 7, it will be observed that small or finely divided areas are provided for supporting the fuel; the air for combustion is preheated as it flows and is directed to the fuel'supporting surfaces substantially as in the case of the structure previously described and shown in Figures .1 to 4.

Referring next to the construction shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10, the carrier bar A is there shown of non-circular and preferably square cross section throughout its length except at its ends Where it is turned down into a cylindrical trunnion, as indicated at 6B. Secured to each end of the bar A is a trunnion adapter 6|, which preferably comprises a cylindrical sleeve section 62 riveted to the trunnion section 60, as indicated at 63, and a flange section 64 recessed as indicated at 65 to receive the square end of the bar therewithin for a short distance. In this form of the invention, the grate bar is shown adapted to rock in a bearing 66 formed by a flange integral with the side frame 2I0. As

. will be understood by those skilled in the art,

anyone of the constructions shown may be adapted or modified so as to operate either with trunnion lugs, such as shown at II and I I I, or with a bearing as shown at 66 in Figure 9, all without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Each of the fuel supporting units C of the Figures 8 and 9 construction, also embodies a web 2I9 extending transversely of the carrier bar and a plurality of integrally formed radiating and passage-forming flanges 224 extending from the edges of the web diagonally or in an inclined direction upwardly and toward the cen- 8. Preferably also, the web of each unit C is provided with a plurality of openings or perforations 61 to lessen theamount of material required-and also to increase the radiating functions of the unit. Along the top edge of the webwhich is of arcuate contouras'in the previously described forms, is provided aplurality of fuel supporting fingers 229220 extending to both sides of the web and likewise of curved or convexcontour in section as best shown. in Figure 9. In the formation of the fingers 220, the latter are separated by transversely extending grooves or corrugations 6868 which extend not only over the top areas but also down the sides of the fingers as shown in Figure 9, thereby providing the necessary air passages or spaces for the incoming preheated air to the fuel. a a

The web of each unit C is centrally apertured with a non-circular opening 69 conforming to thenon-circular cross section of the carrier bar so that the units may be assembled endwise over it is sometimes desirable to vary the spacing of.

the fuel supporting units ona carrier bar so as to insure a complete supporting areafor the fuel without excessive gaps or spacings between the units ,which'might otherwise permit the fuel to' drop through to the ashpan. In such cases where the variation does not permit of the addition of another unit C one or more spacers may be employed as-indicated at II, each of the same comprising. preferably a plate of the general contour ofnthe unit and centrally apertured to allow the same to be slipped over or threaded onto the carrier bar, as shown in Figure 9.. When in, place, the spacers ll will contact with the edges of the flanges 224 and in conjunction with the latter provide the flues or passages for directing the air for combustion upwardly to the fuel, as will be understood.

All of the fuel supporting units shown and described will preferably be made from gray iron in the form of castings. It will also be noted that the same are of such design that they may be cast in quantity on gated patterns, no cores, chills, chaplets or the like being required. The patterns of the castings are also such that the molding may bedone on a vibrator plate machine, thus reducing the cost to a minimum. The carrier bars of the forms shown in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive will preferably be made in the form of steel castings and the carrier bar A preferably made from rolled steel. As will be apparent from the preceding description, the

fuel supporting units may readily be replaced in the event of injury to anyone thereof.

Although the constructions herein shown and described are now considered the preferred manner of carrying out the invention, nevertheless various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventionand all such changes and modifications are contemplated that come within the scope of the claims appendedhereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A fuel supporting unit for a grate and adapted to be detachably mounted on a carrier bar, said unit comprising: a vertical web ar-i ranged to extend'transversely of the carrier bar; a series of fingers along the top of the web extending transversely of the latter and to opposite sides thereof; and a plurality of heat radiating flanges on the sides of the web, said flanges extending frornthe side edges of the web inwardly and upwardly and terminating bel'owthe fingers and definin air preheating passages for the air of combustion.

2. A fuel supporting unit for a grate and adapted to be detachably mounted on a carrier bar, said unit comprising: a vertical web arranged to extend transversely of the carrier bar; a series of fingers along the top of the web, extending transversely of the latter and projecting to both sides thereof to provide a vented supporting surface; and a plurality of spaced heat radiating flanges on the sides of the web, said flanges defining passages for and serving to preheat the currents of air passing to the vented supporting surface, the over-all width of said flanges being slightly greater than the overall width of said top fingers, the flanges of adjacent units being adapted to contact when the units are assembled on a carrier bar.

3. A fuel supporting unit for a grate and adapted to be detachably mounted on a carrier bar, said unit comprising: a vertical web ar- '-ranged to extend transversely of the bar when 1 and on opposite sides of the center linetherebfj 4. A fuel supporting unit for a grate and adapted to be detachably mounted on a carrier bar, said unit comprising: a vertical web ar-' ranged to extend transversely of the carrier bar a when assembled thereon, said web being 'provided with a non-circular opening therein for the reception of the carrier bar; spaced fingerlike fuel-supporting portions along the top edge of the web; and means formed integrally with the web to provide passages for preheating the air of combustion, said means being so located and formed that said passages converge upwardly from the-side edges of the web and toward the center of the top of the unit.

5. A' fuel supporting unit for a grate and adapted to be detachably mounted on a carrier bar with a plurality of like adjacent units, said unit comprising: a vertical web arranged to extend transversely of the carrier bar when assembled thereon and having an arcuate upper edge contour; a plurality of fuel-supporting fingers extending from each side of the web along the top'edge thereof, said fingers being also of arcuate contour in a direction transversely of the web and providing substantially smooth, spaced, curved supporting surfaces; and a plurality of flanges on each side of the web and at each side of the vertical center line of each side, the flanges on each side of the web being inclined upwardly from the side edges of the web and ma general direction toward the vertical center line of the web, said flanges being separate from and all disposed below the fingers. 6. A fuel supporting unit for a grate adapted to be detachably mounted, with like units, on a carrier bar, said unit comprising:-a vertical web arranged to extend transversely of the carrier bar when assembled thereon, said web being provided with a centrally disposed opening therein for the reception of the carrier bar; spaced, finger-like fuel-supporting portions along the top' of the web; and means formed integrally with theweb, at each side of said opening, toprovide passagesfor preheating the air of combustion, said means at each side being so constructed that the passages formed thereby extend in an upward direction and toward the vertical center line or" the web whereby delivery of air about the finger-like fuel-supporting portions in the area above the carrier bar, is insured.

JOHN F. O'CONNOR. 

